The primary purpose of this thesis was to examine the work methods implemented by outreach workers in their interaction with at risk youths. The secondary purpose was to research the possible difficulties that may occur and the tactics to deal with these difficulties. In order to examine the purposes presented the authors produced a qualitative study with 5 semi-structured interviews with outreach workers. After conducting the interviews, the authors used thematization in order to illustrate the empirical data. The theoretical framework used to analyze the empirical data consist of three theories; the theory of communication, system theory and social bond theory. The results of the empirical material gathered from the interviews and from the analyzation of the interviews using out theoretical framework, provided multiple answers as it relates to the purpose. The results regarding the primary purpose showed that there is a lack of evidence-practice within the field of outreach work, which in turn leads to the fact that there is a vast variety of work methods applicable within their field. The results of interviews implied that outreach workers adapt their work methods depending on the situation and their personal expertise indicating that there are no specific set of methods that have to be used. As it pertains to the secondary purpose a clear correlation is shown between the vast variety of work methods and the many difficulties that may occur. Subsequently the occurrence of the different difficulties ensues based on the diverse established work methods. The study highlights the knowledge, communicational abilities and social skills of the individual outreach worker as way to reduce the probability of the conceivable diverse difficulties from occurring.

On May 31, 2008, one of Canada’s oldest needle exchange programs was forced to close its doors. Street Outreach Services (SOS), run by AIDS Vancouver Island, was evicted from its fixed site location in downtown Victoria, BC, due to years of inadequate funding and resources, and pressure from community members who blamed SOS for “public disorder” on the city streets. Without a new location from which to house the program, SOS has since operated as a mobile service. This case study documents the context surrounding the closure of SOS and the perspectives of outreach staff regarding the transition from fixed site to mobile services-only. Specifically, this study addresses the question: How have service delivery changes and restrictions impacted SOS outreach work? In addition to participant-observation, media and report analysis, primary data are derived from six semi-structured interviews with SOS outreach workers and a thematic analysis highlights common experiences of loss, isolation and changes in relationships with clients. A discussion of strategies for collective responses to ethical distress includes social justice perspectives. / Graduate

Allt högre krav ställs på en vetenskapligt grundad praktik inom det sociala arbetet, en så kallad evidensbaserad praktik. Studiens syfte är att undersöka evidensbasering i det sociala arbetets praktik. Detta uppnås genom en undersökning av arbetsmetoder och synen på evidensbaserat arbete hos fältassistenter verksamma i Rinkeby-Kista stadsdelsförvaltning. Studien genomförs med hjälp av intervjuer vilka analyseras tillsammans med olika dokument och ställs mot det teoretiska ramverket. Dokumenten utgörs av en populärvetenskaplig artikel och två arbetsplatsannonser samt skriftlig information från fältassistenterna. Författarna utgår därmed ifrån en kombination av olika sätt att inhämta kunskap. Det teoretiska ramverket utgörs av Socialstyrelsens modell för evidensbaserat arbete och tillämpad teoretisk litteratur gällande evidensbasering, socialt arbete och fältarbete. Studiens resultat visar enligt författarna att det råder en osäkerhet kring evidensbegreppet bland de fältassistenter som ingår i undersökningen. Detta leder till att den evidensbaserade praktiken till stor del utförs utan en professionell medvetenhet. / Increasingly high demands, in western welfare states, are placed on a scientifically based social work practice; a so-called evidence based practice. The aim for the study is to investigate evidence based social work practice. This is achieved through a study of the work methods of detached youth workers from Rinkeyby-Kista district administration in Stockholm and their view on evidence based social work. The study is conducted using interviews which together with various documents are analyzed and set against a theoretical framework. The documents consist of a popular science article, two job advertisements and data from detached youth workers. The authors thus use different methods of collecting data. The theoretical framework consists of the National Board model for evidence based work and applied theoretical literature regarding evidence based practice, social work and outreach work. The results demonstrate that there is uncertainty about the concept of evidence based practice among detached youth workers included in the survey. This furthermore leads to an evidence based practice which is largely carried out without a professional awareness.

The social welfare committee has a responsibility to work with children and young people to prevent them from being harmed. In many municipalities, preventive work is carried out through an activity known as field work. More than half of Sweden's municipalities have field activities, but how the work is organized differs between municipalities. The purpose of the study is to investigate fieldworkers views and working methods in order to increase the understanding of fieldworkers goals and the conditions required to achieve these goals. The study is based on a qualitative approach with semi- structured interviews as a data collection method. Ten social workers with fieldwork as their explicit task have been interviewed about their perceptions and working methods. Analysis of their statements has then been made based on Bronfenbrenner's developmental ecological model, Askheim & Starrin's theory of Empowerment and Starrin's theory of Paternalism. The results of the study show that the fieldworkers goal is to discover the needs of young people, motivate them to help and create a long-term well-being of the individuals they meet. Fieldworkers believe that academic education, social skills and cooperation with others are important prerequisites for achieving these goals. In addition, it is important to have the trust of their organization, as the profession requires flexibility and results are difficult to demonstrate. The fieldworker strikes a balance between helping and controlling, aiming to help young people make wise choices and create long-term well-being.